Capo 2nd fret

Standard (EADGBE)

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads

A whale of a tale or two

'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved

 On nights like this with the moon above

 A whale of a tale and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo

 There was Mermaid Minnie, met her down in Madagascar

She would kiss me, any time that I would ask her

Then one evening her flame of love blew out

Blow me down and pick me up!

She swapped me for a trout

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads

A whale of a tale or two

'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved

 On nights like this with the moon above

 A whale of a tale and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo

 There was Typhoon Tessie, met her on the coast of Java

When we kissed I bubbled up like molten lava

Then she gave me the scare of my young life

Blow me down and pick me up!

She was the captain's wife

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads

A whale of a tale or two

'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved

 On nights like this with the moon above

 A whale of a tale and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo

 Then there was Harpoon Hannah

Had a look that spelled out danger

My heart quivered when she whispered,

"I'm there, stranger"

Bought her trinkets

That sailors can't afford

(Sailors can't afford)

And when I spent my last red cent

She tossed me overboard!

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads

A whale of a tale or two

'Bout the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved

 On nights like this with the moon above

 A whale of a tale and it's all true

I swear by my tattoo